Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey charged with five counts of rape
Louis Sealey
Burnley v Arsenal - Premier League
Thomas Partey will appear in court next month (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape.
The 32-year-old, who joined Arsenal in 2020, has also been charged with one count of sexual assault.
The offences are reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the Metropolitan Police said.
A statement said two counts of rape relate to one woman, while three counts of rape relate to a second woman. The alleged sexual assault related to a third woman.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, said: ‘Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward.
‘We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing [email protected].’
Arsenal FC v Fulham FC - Premier League
Partey made 167 appearances for the Gunners (Picture: Getty)
Partey will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Tuesday, 5 August.
The charges follow an investigation by detectives, which commenced in February 2022 after police first received a report of rape.
Partey’s Arsenal contract was due to expire on July 1 but the club are yet to announce his departure.
He is also still listed as an Arsenal player on the club’s website and replica shirts with his name on the back were still available to purchase after news of the charges broke.
CPS authorise prosecution of Thomas Partey
Jaswant Narwal, of the CPS, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has today authorised the prosecution of Thomas Partey for multiple counts of rape – after carefully reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence.
‘Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police who have carried out the investigation, to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges.
‘We remind everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.
‘We know there will be significant public interest in this announcement, but it is absolutely vital that there is no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
The Ghana international is believed to have decided to leave Arsenal after talks over a contract extension broke down.
Partey, a £45m signing from Atletico Madrid, made 167 appearances for the Gunners across five seasons at the north London club.
He played 52 games for Mikel Arteta’s side last season as they finished second in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Manchester City v Arsenal - Premier League
Partey played 52 games for Arsenal last season (Picture: Getty)
Campaigners gathered at numerous Arsenal home games last season to protest against the decision to keep playing Partey.
The Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence group wrote: ‘While we recognise that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, we would find any scenario in which a club was to continually select and promote a player under investigation for sexual offences deeply concerning. This would give the suggestion that success on the pitch far outweighs respect for victims of sexual violence.’
Meanwhile, Dino Nocivelli, a Leigh Day partner who has worked on a number of high-profile abuse cases in sport, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘I think the fact that the defendant in these cases has been able to continue his working life is wrong and clearly sends the wrong message for such serious allegations as rape and sexual assault.
‘The player should have been suspended while his football club and the Football Association investigated the allegations, with no prospect of resuming his work until the investigations were concluded.’
Before joining Arsenal, Partey had a lengthy spell at Atletico while also playing for two other Spanish clubs on loan.
As Partey’s Arsenal contract ran down, he was linked with summer moves to Barcelona and Juventus.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings